By Vivek Shankar and Gabby Sobelman
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an American Israeli hostage who had been held in the Gaza Strip after being abducted by Hamas and its allies nearly 11 months ago, has died, President Joe Biden announced late Saturday.
“Earlier today, in a tunnel under the city of Rafah, Israeli forces recovered six bodies of hostages held by Hamas,” Biden said in a statement released by the White House, referring to a city in southern Gaza. “We have now confirmed that one of the hostages killed by these vicious Hamas terrorists was an American citizen, Hersh Goldberg-Polin.”
Biden’s statement was released hours after the Israeli military announced that it had recovered a number of bodies during an operation in the Gaza Strip, and that it was working to identify them. The announcement immediately led to speculation in Israel that more Israeli hostages had died in captivity, and it amplified calls for an immediate cease-fire so that the remaining 100 or so hostages, both dead and alive, could be returned.
Goldberg-Polin, whose family also announced his death in a separate statement, was among the roughly 250 people who were abducted by Hamas and its allies during their Oct. 7 attack on Israel. He was last seen in a video released by Hamas in April and had been seriously injured during the attack.
“I am devastated and outraged. Hersh was among the innocents brutally attacked while attending a music festival for peace in Israel,” Biden said. “He lost his arm helping friends and strangers during Hamas’ savage massacre. He had just turned 23.”
In his statement, Biden promised to keep working toward an agreement to secure the release of the hostages. But he also issued a warning: “Make no mistake, Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes.”
Comments